Centrifugal apparatus



E. ROBERTS. CENT'RIFUGAL APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 19. 1920.

1,414,526. I Patented. May 2,,1922

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

E. ROBERTS.

CENTRIFUGAL APPARATUS.

APPLICATlON FILED NOV. 19, 1920.

Patented May 2, 1922.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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E. ROBERTS.

CENTRIFUGAL APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 19, 1920.

1 %1%,526 Patented May 2, 1922.

22 3 SHEETS-SHEET a.

nuennn'non nnrs, or SALT LAKE'CITY', UTAH, IASSIGNOR'TO THE wns'rnnnsTATns MAC coMrANY, or SALT LAKE cr'rmnTAm oonronATron or UTAH.

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To all whom it may canoe m:

Be it known that I, EUGENE ROBERTS, citizen of the United States, and resident of Salt LakeCity, in the county of Salt. Lake and State of Utah, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Centrifugal A p paratus, of which the following is a specification.

In the manufacture of sugar it is the common practice to separate the syrup or liquid content of the cane juice from the solid sugar content by the use of centrifugal machines designed for that purpose which usually comprise a gyratory perforated basket suspended'from an'overhead support and rotated at sufficiently high speed to expelthe liquid content through the perforated peripheral wall of the basket while the solid content accumulates or walls-up on the inside of the basket wall. This process is continued until so much sugar accumulates that it becomes necessary to discharge the sugar through a central openingin the hub of the basket in order to start a new run. Before such discharging or unloading, however, the sugar in the basket is washed or cleansed by directing aliquid spray against it while the basket is rotating.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a simple, reliable and effective means for separating the centrifugally extracted syrup from the centrifugally expelled wash liquor so that the two liquids may bercarried to difl'erent receptacles for reasons of economy. The invention further consists in so correlating and interconnecting the washing mechanism, the discharger mechanism and the liquid separating means as to insure the correct setting of the apparatus in order to secure the proper order of operations throughout each cycle or run of the machine so that the proper operation of the apparatus is not dependent upon the care or correct attention of the operator or attendant.

By the invention herein described, no

carelessness of the operator will interfere y with the predetermined and proper order of operations of the apparatus, that is, when the centrifugal is started running and the juice from the mixture is admitted to the basket for treatment, the subsequent starting of the washing apparatus in operation automatically sets the liquid separating and collecting means to direct the expelled washing fluid to Specification of Letters Patent.

' rammed ma 2, 1 .922.

. Application filed November 19, 1920. Serial No. 425,232.

its proper channel and receptacle. When the washing apparatus automatically 'stops action according to the general principles set forth in United States patent to Roberts and Gibson 1,224,095, the discharger or unloading apparatus, similar in principle to that shown in Roberts and Gibson Patent 1,011,- 851, Dec. 12, 1911, is swung over the basket to admit the discharger therein and the apparatus is so coordinated that this prepara-- tory movement of the discharger automaticall resets the liquid separating means in position to deflect the extracted syrup into its proper channel and receptacle. By this interlocking principle it is not possible for the operator to incorrectly set the apparatus so that the syrup will run into the washing fluid receptacle or vice versa. 1

4. Another feature of the present invention consists in so arranging and constructing the liquid separating and collectin apparatus that it will require substantia y no more room between the surrounding curb or casing and the centrifugal basket than is,re-

quired under existing arrangements where no such device is provided, and hence itbecomes possible to apply the present invention to existing machines without necessitating either a larger curb or a small basket therein. v

These and other features of the invention will be explained in the following specifica- I tion andwillbe defined in the claims hereto annexed. v J

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated a simple and convenient form of construction and arrangement embodying the principles of this invention, in which;

Flgure 1 is an elevation in central cross section showing the relative arrangement of discharger, washing apparatus and liquid separator mechanism. v

Figure 2 is a plan view in section showing the arrangement of the movable separator members in the lower part of the curb.

Figure 3 is a detail view showing inside elevation a portion of the mechanism by which the ad ustment of the liquid deflectors or shutters is affected.

Figure 5 is an enlarged detail of one element or shutter of the deflecting and separating apparatus.

In the practice of this invention according to the form illustrated in thedrawings, I have shown the centrifugal basket 1 suspended from a gyratory rotaryshaft 2 inside the surrounding curb or casing 3 according to the usual practice. Between the ring 4, which bounds the discharge opening at the center of the curb bottom and the peripheral wall of the curb, is mounted a division ring 5 which in this case is of hexagonal form and which serves to sub-divide the collecting trough between the central opening and the outside wall of the curb into separate troughs or channels these having separate outlet pipes 6 and 7 forleading the liquid collected in each trough to separate receptacles, not shown.

11 one side of the curb is mounted the usual supporting bracket 12 having bearings in which is mounted the vertical shaft 11 which carries the swinging arm 10 forming a support in which is mounted the vertically movable sleeve 13 and the inner plow spindle 14 to whose lower ends is attached the discharging plow 15 ona principle similar to that shown in United States Patent 1,011,851 above mentioned.

On the opposite side of the curb from the discharger is mounted the automatic spraylIlg or washing apparatus 20 characterized by an oscillatory spray nozzle 21 and having a rock-shaft'23 carrying a lever or arm 22 which latter, when raised, serves to set the mechanism in operation in accordance with the general principle described in United States Letters Patent 1,224,095 or in this apphcants pending application Serial No. 390,131.

At a short distance above the bottom or floor of the curb is secured a sloping or in clined ring 30 whose outer higher edge is secured to the peripheral wall of the curb, and whose inner and lower edge is in this case hexagonal in form as best seen in Figure 2. At th inner cornersor anglesof this deflecting-plate, recesses are formed to receive the shutter actuating pinions to be descrlbed, and these recesses are protected by suitably formed hood members 31 made in two sections so that each section may be independently removed. Each hood section isformed with a depending lug or bearing bracket 32 which is horizontally bored to form a supporting bearing to receive the rotatable stub shafts or journals 34 which are secured to lugs 35 formed near each end of the reversible or pivotal shutters 33.

To the lower or projecting ends of each stub shaft 34 is secured a bevelled gear or pinion 37 constructed and arranged to intermesh with a similar adjacent pinion carriedby the next shutter.

With the hexagonal arrangement shown it will be seen that I provide a series of six pivotal shutters very close to each other at their inner edges and each having its pivotal axes disposed at an angle of 120 to the axis of the adjacent shutters on either side, and each being operatively interlocked or interconnected with the adj acent-shutter by means of the intermeshing pinions carried thereby. The pivotal axis of each shutter is arranged approximately above the corresponding portion of the hexagonal division flange 5 so that the shutter may be tilted or adjusted 1 from the position shown in Figure 5 to the positions shown in Figures 1 and v3.

Any suitable train of mechanism maybe employed for effecting this angular or pivotal adjustment of the series of shutters or liquid deflectors. In this case, however, I have shown the shutter shifting mechanism operatively interlocked or coordinated with th washing mechanism and with the discharger as will now be described.

On the side of the curb support-ing the washing mechanism and adjacent to said washer-is mounted a reciprocatory plunger 45 which moves in upper and lower bearing lugs 46 secured to the side of the curb and is nor-, mally pressed downward by means of a thrust or compression spring 48 and a thrust collar 47 secured to the plunger. At its lower end the plunger is connected With a pivotal link 44 preferably through the agencyof a screw threaded connection 49 which, by reason of its screw threaded engagement with the plunger 45, can be adjusted to lengthen or shorten the plunger while at the same time forming a connecting means with the pivotal link 44. At its lower end the link 44 is pivotally connected with the rock-arm 43 secured to the horizontal rock-shaft 42 05, mounted in a bracket onthe side of the curb, which rock-shaft carries a shuttle operating arm or lever 41 secured to the rock-shaft to have swinging movement and which forms one element of a toggle couple by reason of Y its pivotal connection with the link 40, whose other end is pivotally connected with a lug 38 secured to the outer edge of one of the pivotal shutters 33.

Above the upper end of the plunger 45 and adjacent thereto is pivotally mounted a. latch or detent 50 whose lower end is curved and formed with a hook or notch for engaging a pin 56 which projects laterally from the upper end of the plunger. This hook latch or detent 50 is provided with .a bent extension 51- which is so disposed that its outer or free end overlaps or projects above the starting handle 22 by the raising or lift-' ing of which the automatic washer mechanism is set in operation.

Obviously, if the plunger is interlockedwith the latch 50, the raising of the hand lever 22 to set the washing apparatus in I operation will tilt the latch 50 so as to disengage its hook from detent connection with the plunger 45, thereby allowing the plunger to be forced downward under the thrust of the spring 47. This downward movement of the plunger is transmitted through the link 44, the'rock-shaft 42 and the to gles 40, 41 to tilt the master shutter 33. 0 long as the plunger is held in raised position by the latch 50 the master shutter; 33, and consequently all the other shutters with which it is operatively connectedthrough the intermeshing pinions 37, will be held in a position with their outer edges lowermost as shown in Figure 1. When, however, the plunger 45 is released and moves down, suc movement tends to flex the toggles 40, 41, and tilt the shutters to the position indicated in Figure 3, that is, with their inner edges lowermost in which position the liquid running down over the deflector plate is directed into the inner trough which receives and leads away the wash liquor, it

being understood that when the shutters are tilted to the position shown in Figure 1, the liquid flowing down over the plate 30 is deflected into the outer or syrup collecting channel.

If, however, after the washing operation the attendant should forget to reset the shutter in position to d1rect the syrup into the outer ring, then after the collected sugar had been discharged from the basket and a new run of syrup should, be started the extracted syrup would flow into the inner or wash liquor channel.

To provide against such contingency 'I have so interconnected thedischarger apparatus with'the shuttercontrolling and adjusting mechanism that the very act of swinging the discharger into operative position for unloading the basket will automatically operate through suitable connections to reset the shutters to correct position to direct the extracted syrup into the outer ring. 1

Various forms of mechanism may be employed for this purpose but that actually p shown in the drawingscomprises an arm 16 secured to the lower end of the discharger supporting shaft 11 and a flexible connection, in this case a cord or cable 55, secured thereto and led around the outside of the curb over suitable sheaves or idler pulleys 56 so that its other end may be secured to any suitable part of the shutter adjacent or controlling mechanism as is shown in Figure 4 where the cable is adjustably connected to the extension member 49 of the plunger by means of a clamping or holding screw 59 carried thereby.

Obviously, when the overhanging arm 10 carried by the discharger shaft 11' is pushed inwardly over the basket to place the discharger in operative position, this clockwise movement of the shaft 11 results in a similar movement of the arm 16 and thus exerts &

pin 56 to pass upwardly by it into locking position.

The liquid, whether washing liquor or sugar syrup. that is centrifugally expelled h from the basket, passes through the side wall of the basket against the adjacent inclosing wall of the curb whence it runs down over the deflecting ring 30 and falls upon the upper surface of the series of shutters which, by their angular inclination, act to direct the liquid into its appropriate collecting channel curing.

With the construction and arrangement shown any existing centrifugal machine of this overhead suspension type can be readily equipped with the juice separating means, and when so equipped is provided with a reliable and convenient means for,

separating the two liquids which are centrifugally extracted from the sugar at the two stages in the operation of the machine.

The hoods or deflectors 31 are arranged to prevent. the openings formed in the deflecting ring 30 for the purpose of receiving the intermeshing shutter pinions. Theseu hoods are made in two sections so as to permit any 1nd1v1dual shutter to be removed bodily without disturbing the other shutters, this being accomplished by removing the fastening screws from the two sections at the opposite ends of the shutter after which the shutter with the two hood sections may be "llfted clear of the machine. This is an important feature in connection with the repair or relacement of individual shutters' partition ring dividing the annular bottom of the casing into inner and outer collecting troughs or channels it Wlll. be understood that 11 do not confine myself to any particular form, the esssential-featurebeing the coordinated relationship between that partition and the adjacent horizontal shutters by which the centrifugally extracted liquid is directed at different stages into the appropriate collecting trough.

What I claim is: v

1. In a centrifugal machine embracinga' flow of liquid through the o While I have shown and described the' series of liquid-deflector members pivotally mounted between said partition and the bottom of the basket, and means for shifting said deflecting members angularly to direct the expelled liquid from the basket to one or the other of said troughs, substantially as described.

2. In a centrifugal machine embracing a perforated centrifugal basket and an encircling casing for receiving the centrifugally expelled liquid, the combination of an annular partition dividing the bottom of the casing into outer and inner channels, a series of deflector members mounted on horizontal pivotal axes adjacent to said partition, and means for shifting said deflectors from one angular inclination to another above said partition in order to direct the extracted liquid to either side of the partition into the appropriate channel, substantially as described.

3. In a centrifugal machine embracing a perforated centrifugal basket and an encircling casing for receiving the centrifugal'ly expelled liquid, the combination of an annular partition dividing the bottom portion of the casing into outer and inner compartments, a polygonally arranged series of deflectors mounted about angularly disposed axes above, said partition, and shifting means whereby said deflectors may be adjusted to shed the expelled'liquid into either compartment. substantially as described.

4. In a. centrifugal machine embracing a perforated centrifugal basket and an encircling casing for receiving the centrifugally expelled liquid, the combination of an annular polygonal'partition located in the casing bottom, an inclined deflecting plate secured to the inside face of the casing and inclined downwardly with its inner edge approximately in line with and above the said partition, a series of pivotal deflectors mounted about horizontal axes between the deflector plate and the partition, said deflector being angularly adjustable to shed liquid to either side of said partition, substantially as described.

5. In a centrifugal machine embracing a perforated centrifugal basket and an encircling casing for receiving the centrifugally expelled liquid, the combination of a partition dividing the casing bottom into outer and inner collecting rings, a deflecting plate projecting from the inside face of the casing, a series of horizontally pivoted deflectors suspended below the inner edge of said deflecting plate to swing to different angular positions in relation to said partition, and means for simultaneously adjusting all said deflectors to direct liquid into either compartment as desired, substantially as described.

6. In a centrifugal machine embracing a perforated centrifugal basket and ainencircling casing for receiving the centrifugally expelled liquid, the combination of an annuand having its inner polygonal edge above said partition, a series of hoods arranged at the angles of the inner edge to direct the liquid therefrom, and pivotal shutters arranged in a polygonal series and shiftable about horizontal axes to direct liquid to either side of said partition, substantially as described. 1

7. In a centrifugal machine embracing a centrifugal basket, and an encircling liquid- 'collecting casing having outer and inner bottom'compartments for receiving the expelled liquid, the combination of an annularly arranged series of interconnected deflectors mounted on horizontalpivotal axes below the level of the basket, and common means for angularly shifting said deflectors to direct the expelled liquid into either compartment, substantially as described.

8. In a centrifugal machine embracing a centrifugal basket, an encircling casing having outer and inner collecting troughs at its bottom and a washing apparatus for spraying the walled up sugar in the basket, the combination of an annular series of deflectors mounted about horizontal axes below the level of the basket, and means interconnected with the washing apparatus for automatically shifting the deflectors when the washing operation is started, whereby the liquid expelled is diverted away from one trough and into the other, substantially as described.

9. In a centrifugal machineembraclng a centrifugal basket, an encircling casing having outer and inner collecting troughs at its bottom and a sugar discharging apparatus for unloading the walled upsugar in the basket, the combination of an annular series of deflectors movably mounted below the level of the basket, and means operatively connected with the disoharger apparatus for automatically shiftlng the de flectors when the discharger apparatus 15 moved to operative position whereby the exv arranged nected with the washing apparatus and the discharger to automatically change the operative relationship of the deflectors when the washing apparatus is set in action to change them back when the discharger apparatus is set for action, substantially as described.

11. In a centrifugal machine having a centrifugal basket, an encircling casing formed with outer and inner bottom collecting troughs, a washing apparatus, for spraying the sugar and a discharger for unloading the sugar, the combination of an annularly series of pivoted deflectors mounted in the lower part of the casing above said troughs and interconnected with each other to move simultaneously, a reciprocatory rod having link connection with one of said deflectors to tilt the deflectors in opposite directions according to the direction of movement of said rod, means interconnected with the washin apparatus for preventing normal movement of said rod in one direction, and means connected with the discharger apparatus for moving said rod in the opposite direction, substantially as described.

12. In a centrifugal machine embracing a centrifugal basket, an encircling casing having outer and inner collecting troughs at its bottom and a washing apparatus for spraying the walled up sugar in the basket, the combination of an annular series of pivotal deflectors mounted below the basket and operatively connected with. each other to move simultaneously, an actuating member movable to and fro in opposite directions and having operative connection with one of said deflectors to shift the same alternatively into position to direct liquid into either of said troughs, means tending to normally movesaid actuating member in one direction, a detent normally acting to prevent said movement, said detent having 1. ails operative connection with the washing apparatus whereby it is released when the Washing apparatus is set in action, substantially as described.-

13. In a centrifugal machine having a centrifugal basket, an encircling casing formed with outer and inner bottom collecting troughs, a washing apparatus for spray ing the sugar and a discharger for unloading the sugar, the combination of an annular series of interconnected pivotal deflectors, an actuating member having operative connection with one of said deflectors to shift the same in either direction, a spring arranged by its thrust to move said actuating member in one direction, a detent interconnected with the washing apparatus to prevent the action of the said spring, said actuating mechanism also being connected with the discharger apparatus to be moved thereby against the thrust of said spring whereby the starting of the washing apparatus serves to set the deflectors in one position and the operative setting of the discharger mechanism acts to reset said deflectors in their other operative position, substantially as described.

14. In a centrifugal machine embracing a centrifugal basket and its surrounding casing having inner and outer collecting troughs at its bottom, the combination of means for conducting the liquid expelled against the casing to a position above the troughs, reversible members for deflecting the liquid to either trough, and automatically controlled means for setting the deflecting members to direct the liquid alternately into said troughs at different stages in the operation of the machine, substantially as described.

In witness whereof, I have subscribed the above specification.

EUGENE ROBERTS. 

